Excavating-machine.



PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

0.0.JAGOBS. EXUAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JANJZ, 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED OUT. 9, 1906.

' (LU. JACOBS EXGAVATING MACHINE,

APPLIGATIQN FILED JAN.12, 1906.

14 SHEETSSHEET 2v ll w lll ll ||||||l||l||l||ll| PATENTED OCT. 9, 19 06.

(1.. G. JACOBS EXOAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12. 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET s PATENTED OUT. 9, 1906.

C. 0.. JACOBS. EXGAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.12. 1906.

14 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Wimwsea,

PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

G. C. JACOBS.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED 001? 9, 1906.

0.0.JAGOBS. I EXOAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JANJZ. 1906.

14 SHBETSSHEET 61 PATENTED OCT. 9-, 1906.

0. G. JACOBS. EXGAVATING "MACHINE.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 7 APPLICATION FILED \TANJZ, 1906.

PATENTED 00119, 1906.

0. U. JACOBS. BXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 8 PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

0. G. JACOBS. E'XGAVATING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JAN.12, 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

PAT-EDITED OCT. 9, 1906.

0. G. JACOBS. EXGAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JANJZ, 1906. 75 14 SHEETSSHEET 10v 2; 714 .16. [75 75 70 PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

U. G. JACOBS EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .TANJZ, 1906.

14 SHEETSSHEET 11.

PATENTED OUT. 9, 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET l2 QQN N0. 832,609. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

G. O. JACOBS. I EXGAVATING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAILIZ. 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 1a.

PATENTED OUT. 9, 1906.

0. O. JACOBS. EXOAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, 1906.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CHARLES O'JACOBS, OF AMBOY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JACOBS STEEL EXCAVATOR COMPANY, OF AMBOY,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF EXCAVATING-MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906 Application filed January 12, 1906. Serial No. 295,828.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. JAooBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amboy, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful 1m rovement's in Excavating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention concerns ditch or trench excavating devices, and relates more particularly to machines of the general character set forth in my former United States Patent No. 794,410, granted July 11, 1905.

The present machine is especially adapted for diggin a ditch or canal and at the same time buil ing a bank or levee at one side of the trench with the excavated material; but it is also available for all kinds of digging or dredging. My new type of excavator in-.

, rocate on these tracks is a shovel-truck having a pivoted dumping scoopor bucket with a cuttin edge, the operation of which is to scrape a ayer of earth from the trench, carry it out upon the boom-track, and dump it to form part of the levee. After each shovelful of dirt has been removed from the ditch the vertically-adjustable ditch-track is fed downwardly a small amount, so that upon the next forward movement of the truck and attached scoop another layer of earth'will be shaved off and dumped on the bank. The frame is movable longitudinally of the ditch on tempora'ry rails laid parallel to and near the edges of the trench, and after the latter has been excavated to the roper depth the frame is caused to travel orwardly on these ground tracks or rails anamount approximatel equivalent to the width of cut of the shove so that a new cross-section of the canal may be excavated, the vertically-adjustable shovel supporting and guidingtrack having been previously raised to bring the shovel at the lowest point of its travel above rows.

the level of the unexcavated ground. By

this means the ditch is dug by removing a series of cross-sections of the trench, the dirt being carried over the land some distance and discharged on the gr'aduallyforming dike or levee. At the end of the frame remote from the boom is an engine which by means of drums, cables, clutches, shafts, gears, screws, and the like causes the shovel to travel to and fro on its track, feeds the shovel-track downwardly and upwardly as occasion demands, and moves the whole frame on the temporary ground-rails when a new section of the ditch is to be scooped out.

Several of the minor features of the structure form parts of my invention'for example, the means for supporting the track on the boom, which permits the ditch portion of the track to be moved up and down, and a suspended platform to prevent the dirt which is tipped out of the scoop due to the change of its angle of inclination from falling on the ground adjacent to the ditch instead of on the levee. A traveling sheave over which the advancin cable passes to change the direction of pu l on the shovel to correspond to the chan es in the direction of the shovel-track also orms a part of my invention.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein I 1 Figure 1 is a skeleton side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the left-hand part of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is; a detail view of the means for feeding the shovelg uiding track upwardly and downwardly.

ig. 4 is an elevation of the boom or overhangin' portion of the structure. Fig. 5 is a vertica cross-section on line 5 5 of F1 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by t e ar- Fig. 6 is an elevation of the righthand end of the structure shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a plan of the ditch portion of the machine, parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction. Fi 8 is a horizontal section of the same and il ustrates the cooperation between the supportingframe and the vertically-adjustable guidingtrack. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the boom portion of the machine shownin Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical longitudinal section illustrating the sup ort for the sheave at the boom end of the ame. Fig.

is, a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 10. Fi .12is an enlar ed vertical crosssection on t e line 12 12 0 Fig. 2, showing the shovel in the lowest portion of'the guiding-track. Fig. 13 is an enlarged elevation of one of the means for causing the frame to travel on the temporary ground-rails. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 15. is an endelevation of the same. Fig. 16 is a detail elevation, partly in section, illustrating the means for operating the vertically-adjustable shovel supportin and uiding track. Fi .17 isahorizonta section ookihg downwardTy on line 17 17 of Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the shovel comprising the rolling truck and scoop with its cuttin edge. Fi l9 is a section of the shove shown in ig. 18 on the line 19 19 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section of the shovel and shows the same in dumpin Fig. 21 is a plan view of the shovel. F1 22 is a detail view illustrating a modified for-m of shovel-tripping means. Fig. 23 shows a ortion of thearts illustrated in Fig. 22.

ig. 24 shows t e machine e uipped with a traveling sheave to guide the orwardly-pulling cable; and Figs. 25, 26, and 27 are detail views of the sheave and its trackway.

.Each side of the frame includes 'a vertical post 25, built up of four angles, as shown in ig. 8, mounted on the transverse horizontal beam 26, consisting of, besides other parts, spaced'channel-bars 2.7, as illustrated in Fig. 15. Posts 30, similar to the posts 25, are 'mounted vertically on a horizontal beam 31, like the beam 26 described ab0ve, the latter osts being of approximately one-half the eight of posts 25. Posts 25 and are each braced against outward displacement by an "inclined angle-bar 27, Fig. 12, secured at its upper end to the 0st and at its lower end to an upstanding p ate 28, fastened near the end of the transverse beam 26 or 31, as the case may be. The bars 27 aretied to their respective posts and prevented from buckling by the bars 29. Joining posts 25 and 30 on each side near their lower ends is a beam a 32, built up of two angle-bars, as shown in Fig. 12, and projecting beyond post 30,'as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Connecting the upper end of post 30 with approximately the central point of post 25 on each side is a horizontal beam 33, made of two angle-bars, Fig.

12, like the beam 32. The upper end of post 30 is connected to the top end of post 25 by an inclined bar 34, Fig. 2, which may also com rise two angles placed flange to flange, as s own in Fig. 7. An inclined brace 35, connected to the gusset-plate 36 at the top of post 30 and to the protruding end of beam 32,

revents the latter from deflection under the oad of the engine and other parts which it supports. Horizontal bars 32 and 33 and the inclined tension-bar 34 are connected and g position.

longitudinal angleare 56 and 57,

izpaced apart by vertical angle-bars 37 and 38,

-1g. 2. Diagonal braces 39 are'also connected to the horizontal bars, as is shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the structure being of the usual simple trussed type and possessing the requisite strength.

A horizontal beam 40, which maybe interal with beam 33 or maybe separate thereom, extends outwardly from post 25 to the land end of the structure, as shown inFigs. 1 and 4. This beam also is made of two anglebars; but it is to be understood that the speparticular type of bars usedis immaterial. rojecting landward from the top of post 25 is a horizontal bar 41, the outer endof which is joined to the outer end of bar 40 by lighe inclined tension or sustaining bar 42. tween the latter and bar 40 are the upri hts 43 and the inclined bars 44, as shown. a he greater portion of this frame is made from spaced angles between which at the roper points are fastened gusset-plates whic form convenient attaching. means for other bars. It will be evident from this construction that the frame is of the cantaliver type, having a comparatively long boom or overhanging section. (Shown most clearly in Fig. 1.) These two outer side frames are s aced apart and tied together by transverse ars 45 and diagonals 46, Figs. 7 and 9, of which only a small portion is shown, the construction bein that of the usual type. Inside of these si e frames and spaced therefrom are two additional frames, which comprise, among other parts, the two horizontal beams 47, Fig.

cific structure of the whole frame and the I These horizontal beams are held in place by transverse beams 49 and diagonals 50. Vertical posts 51, Fig. 8, resting on transverse beams 26 and 31, form parts of these inner frames, and their tops are connected by inclined bars 52, Fi 7, which are in the plane 2' of and correspon to the bars 34. .Attached to the inner sides of these inner-frames are four comparatively large vertical I-beams 53, as shown in Figs. 8, 16, and 17.

1 Slidable u on the I-beams 53 and verticall adjusta le is a shovel supporting and gui ing track-frame which comprises on each side, as shown in Fig. 2, a lower track-plate 54, havingl its end portions 55 upwardly divergent, t e shape of the plate conforming to the cross-sectional profile of the trench to be dug. Each plate 54 has riveted to its inner surface near its to and bottom ed es two ig. 12 forming the tracks. Extended upwardly from each plate 54 at thepoints where its end sections 55' join the lower horizontal portion is a vertical plate 58, Figs. 16 and 17, to the outer surface of which are riveted spaced angle-bars 59, which are adapted to extend over the edges of the corresponding vertical I- beam 53 and form guides for the movable shovel-track framework. A horizontal bar 60, Fig. 2, joins the upper ends of the two plates 58 on each side, and this bar 60 is connected to the central ortion of the trackplate 54 by the vertica angle-bars 61, which inclined angle-bars 62 connect gusset-plates at the upper ends of plates 58 with the central portion of plate 54. Bars63, Fig. 2, tie the ends 55 to the upper ends of lates 58. The sides of this vertically-movab e shoveltrack frame are held in proper upright position by horizontal spacing bars 64 and crossed diagonals 65, Fig. 12.

The means for moving the adjustable track-frame includes an upright screw 66, Figs. 3 and 16, one for each plate 58, the screw passing through a nut 67, Fig. 17, bolted to the outer side of the plate 58 near its top end and fitting between the parallel flanges of the corresponding I-beam 53. The lower end of each screw has a step-bearing at 68 in a member 69, bolted to the beam 47. At its upper end each screw 66 has a bevelgear 70, the upper end of the screw-shaft having a bearing in a box 71, mounted on cross-channels 72, the latter resting u on and being bolted or riveted to horizonta beams 33 and 48. Above the two pairs of bevelgears 70 are transverse shafts 73, rotating in bearings 74, mounted on the channels 72 and having bevel-gears 75, meshing with and operating the gears 70 and screws 66. At one end of each shaft 73 isa bevel-gear 76, Figs. 7 and 12, meshing with a similar gear 77, mounted to turn with a shaft 78, extending longitudinally of the framework and rotatively mounted in bearings. 79 on the crossbeams 49.

Suspended from the boom portion of the skeleton frame is a dumping-shovel tracksection 84, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, supported on the frame by means of depending links 80, the upper ends of which latter arepivoted between the flanges of separated angle-bars 81,

attached at their lower ends to transverse beams 82, joining the two side frames, and riveted at their upper ends to a similar transverse angle-bar 83. At its lower end each link is pivoted to the track-plate 84 inside of a bracket 85, which acts as a bearing. To the inner side of each track-plate 84 are riveted two angle-bars 86 and 87, which are vertically spaced apart the same amount that the angle-bars 56 and 57 are.

An intermediate track-section 91, similar to the dumping section 84 described above, is pivoted at one end at 92 to the inner end of the dumping track-section and at its other end at 93 to the adjacent end 55 of the movable track-frame. This intermediate section includes side plates 94, with upper and lower angles 95 and 96.

Track-plates 54, 94, and 84 are spaced apart by yokes each consisting of an angle or other bar 88, Fig. 5, attached to the upper ends of plates 89, secured to the outer sides of the respective track-plates by angles 90. These supporting means for the bars 88 act also as stiffeners for the track-plates.

The shovel which is adapted to be drawn to and fro on the ditch track-section 54, the intermediate section 91, and the dumping section 84 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 18 and 21, inclusive, and comprises an open truckframe, within which is pivoted a scoop or bucket open at its top and forward side and having a cutting edge. The truck-frame includes two spaced channel-bars 97, disposed with their flanges extended outwardly, the bars being tied together and separated the proper distance by transverse angle-bars 98 and 99 andchannel-bar 100 at the forward end of the truck, while at the rear the channels are prevented from spreading by the enlarged ends or collars 101 on trip-shaft102. Mounted in bearings in the channels 97 r are the forward and rear axles 103 and 104, res ectively, equip ed at their outer ends with the flanged whee s 105, adapted to travel on the lower angles 57, 96, and 87 of the tracksections 54, 91, and 84, the upper angle-bars of the track preventing the wheels from leaving the lower angles. Mounted to turn on shaft 102 is a frame consisting of the two side members 106, each of which has a top marginal outwardly-extended flange 107, which overlap and normally rest upon the top surfaces of side channels 97. Near their forward ends flanges 107 are connected by aflat bar 108, and to the inner surfaces of the rear ends of members 106, which are disposed between channels 97, are fastened short horizontal anle-bars 109, connected by transverse anglears 110. Rotatably mounted in plates 111,

which are riveted to and depend from the inner surfaces of members 106 is an open-topped scoop 112, having an open front face with a lower cut-ting e ge 113. To a transverse plate 114 on the top of the scoop is suitably attached a retracting-cable 115, and at the upper rear edge of the scoop is a beveled strip 116, Fig. 20, coeperating with two sliding catches 117, working in slots in the upstanding flanges of bars 110. Catches 117 are connected by an angle-bar 118 to cause them to operate in unison, and between the upright flanges of rear bar and bar 118 is interposed an elliptic spring 119, whose function'is to thrust the catches forwardly to project over. the edge of the scoo andprevent the same from rotating on its siiaft. For the purpose of withdrawing or retracting these catches Iprovide on shaft 102 two arms 120, rigid therewith, which extend into slots 121 in the catches. On shaft 102 is also an actuating-lever 122, pressure upon which draws back the catches, thereby allowing the scoop to discharge its contents. An advancing cable 123 is attached to the forward end of the truck .by means of'angles 124 and 125 and an interposedpin 126.

The form of shovel shown in Figs. 18 and 21, inclusive, is intended to be released manually; but in some cases it maybe desirable to release the catches automatically, and for that purpose I have illustrated a modified form of catch-actuating mechanism in Fig. 22. On a transverse shovel-tri shaft 127 are two arms 128, projecting into s ots 129 in sliding catches 130. The operating-arm 131 on shaft 127 coacts with a trip-lever 132, pivoted on a transverse rod 133, attached to the boom portion of the frame, a fixed stop 134 preventin forward turning of the trip-lever, which, owever, has freebackward movement. I preferably employ a number of the parts 132, 133, and 134, disposed at intervals along the boom, the inactive levers 132 being slid lengthwise of their rods out of the path of lever 131. By these means the point of dumpt e ing of the scoop may be readily changed, active lever 132 being held in place on its rod between collars-133, which are secured in position by set-screws, Fig. 23.

At the end of the skeleton cantaliver-frame remote from the boom or overhanging portion thereof I provide a boiler 1 35, Figs. 2 and 7, and a double engine 1 36, adapted to revolve clutchshaft 136 and two drums 137 and 138, respectively, the former being adapted to wind up cable 123, attached to the forward end of the shovel, whereby the latter is advancedon the track to scrape out dirt from the trench and dump the same at the boom end of the structure, while the latter drum 138 operates cable 115 to draw the shovel back.

' Cable 123 passes through four or more pairs of uide-pulleys 139, suitably mounted 1n anglears 140, as shown in Fig. 5. At the end. of the boom cable 123 also passes over a sheave 141, rotatably mounted in bearings 142, which are sup orted from the frame by two pairs of depen ing angle-bars 143, which extend between transverse channels 144, Figs. 10 and 11 being riveted to the outer one. The lower ends of angles 143 are held in re er osition by inclined bars 145, attac e at t eir upper ends to horizontal bars 146, the latter restin at one end upon the channels 144 and at file .other end upon the transverse angle-bar 83, connected to the uprights 43. Bars 147 connect bars 146 with the upper ends of uprights 140 and inclined bars 148 connect bars 145-and' 146. After passing around the sheave 141 cable 123 passes directly to its point of attachment to the shovel. u on the position of the shovel) pass eneath t e sheaves or rollers 149, Fig. 2, suitably secured near the lower portion of the verticallyad'ustable track-frame.

he horizontal beams 26 and 31, with thesuperposed frame, are movable longitudinally of the trench, the former on a pair-of tracks Cables 115 and 123 (depending.

saaeoe or'rails 150, mounted on a wooden beam 151, laid temporarily on the ground, beam 31 being movable on a single rail 152 on beam 153.

Since the means for moving the beams 26 and 31 and the structure above them is the same in both cases, a description of one will suflice. Beam 26, ,Figs. 13, 14, and 15, is provided at each end with a pair of track-wheels 154, each having a central flange 154, adapted to fit between the spaced rails 150. The shaft of each innerwheel 154- is equipped with a gear 155, with which meshes an operatingpinion 156 on shaft 157, the latter being driven from a shaft 158, Fig. 13 running longitudinally of the supporting frame by means of a sprocket-chaln I59 passing over a sprocket-wheel 160 on the opposite end of shaft 157 .and a sprocket-wheel 160' on shaft The shaft of each outer track-wheel 154 has a gear 161, with which meshes a pinion 162 on a shaft 163, the latter being turned by shaft 157 throu h the sprocket-wheels 163 on shaft 162 an 164 on shaft 157 and a connecting sprocket-chain 165. Power is communicated from shaft 157 to the air of wheels 154 at the other end of beam 26 y the sprocket-wheels 166 and 167 and the connecting-chain 168. A sprocket-chain 169, Fig. 12, connects a sprocket-wheel 170 on shaft 158 with the operating mechanism to rotate the wheels 171 traveling on rail 152.

Inclined platforms 172 and 173, Fig. 2, ex-

tending over beam 26 and its numerous wheels, gears, 850., and supported by bent angle-bars 174, which are attached to posts 51 and bars 175, prevent the dirt pushed up in front of the scoop or shovel from falling on and clogging the mechanism.

Depending from the intermediate tracksection 91 is a platform 176, Figs. 1 and 2, suspended below the track-section an amount slightl eater than that which the shovel extends low it. Platform 176 is suspend ed from the track-section by the braces 177,

the brace ad'acent to the ditch being equipped withearings 178, in which is rotatably mounted a roller 179, over which the cables are adapted to pass. The function of platform 176 1s to prevent the dirt which is spilled out of the shovel, due to the change of inclination of the latter as the shovel passes from the part to the intermediate trackway 91. from falling on the ground. near the trench.

The operator of the machine by standing near the engine has control of all the parts. Handle 180, Fig. 7, controls the-engine, handles 181 and 182 control drums 137 and 138,

and handle 183 actuates a rock-shaft 184, the latter connecting withclutches 185andi 186 on shaft 136, so that by throwing handle 183 in one direction clutch 186 will be operated to turn shaft 78 by means of sprocket-chain 187 and sprocketwheels on the clutch-shaft and on shaft 7 8 ,so that the latter bymeansof the or'less b chain 188 and s rocket-wheels on the c utch-shaft and on s aft 158, whereby the whole frame may be caused to travel longitudinally of the trench on the temporary tracks or rails 150 and 152.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol lows: Assuming that the shovel has been drawn rearwardly or toward the engine by the cable 115, so as to be above the level of the ground, the operator by actuating han dle 181 causes the forward pulling-cable 123 to-be wound up on drum 137, the cable 115 being paid out from the drum 138, whereby the shovel is caused to travel on its trackway, descending at the left-hand end of the track -55,-as viewed in 2', its cutting edge shaving off a layer of irt as it passes down this inclined path along the horizontal portion 54 and up the other inclined end 55. While travelin up this latter incline it pushes more irt ahead of it, and to prevent the same from falling upon the beam 26 and its gears and sprocket-wheels the platforms 172 and 173 are used as a cover for these parts. The shovel in passing to theintermediate track-section 91 changes its angle of inclination,- and in addition to the amount of dirt which theshovel has forced ahead of it some I is spilled out of the mouth of thescoop, and

to prevent the same fromfalling upon the land adj acent'to the trench the platform 176 is provided, so that whatever dirt falls thereupon ispushed along tide-same by means of the shovel and dumped at the beginning of the bank or dike. The shovel continues its forward. movement and passes upon the dumping-trackway 84 at some portion of which the latch or catch on the shovel is I 'itripped either manually by a workman stationed on the frame or automatically by the stop-lever132, (shown in Fig. 22,) so that the load is discharged. The operator at the engine then turns handle 182, so as to cause the winding up of cable 115 on its drum and the 1-16 forcing the catches 1 17 back, after which the catches, under the influence of spring 119, slide forwardly over the edge of the scoop to maintain it in position, In its backward movement the shovel asses over the dumping, intermediate, an ditch sections of the track, as will be readily understood. In case a the scoop in this backward movement strikes any irregularities in the ground or other obstruction it is permitted, owing to its pivotal connection on the shaft 102, to rise sufiiciently from the truck-frame to pass over the obstruction. Before the shovel is started on its next forward trip the vertically-adjustable ditch track-frame is fed downwardly a small amount by the operator, who turns the handle 183 in such a direction as to throw in the clutch 186, thereby causing the simultaneous rotation of the vertical screws through the means of chain 187, shaft 78, gears 77, 76, 75, and 70. Owing to the fixed nuts 67, with which the screws 66 cobperate, 'the track-frame is lowered by the turning of the gears and screws, as described above, the frame being guided in its movement by the angles 59 co6perating with the I-beams 53. The supporting of track-section 84 by links and the hinging of the intermediate section at both ends permits the ditch track-section to be raised or lowered, at the same time maintaining the continuity of the trackway. This lowering of the frame causes the cutting front edge of the scoop to scrape off a new layer of ground on its next trip and dump the same, as described above, upon the bank or dike shown inFig. 1. Owing to the fact that the width of cut of the shovel is slightly narrower than the ditch track-frame, it may be necessary occasionally if the earth is articularly firm and compact to feed the W ole frame backward a bit, so that the track-frame may be lowered. When the sectionof the trench which is being excavated has been dug to the pro er depth, the ditch track-frame is raised su ciently by means of the rotation of the vertical screws 66, so that the whole frame may be rolled forwardly on theground-rails an amount approximately equivalent vto the.

width of cut of the shovel. Theoperator causes the whole frame to travel forwardly on the tracks or rails 150 and 152 by throw.- ing the handle 183 in such'a direction as to throw in the clutch 185, thereby rotating shaft 158 through the means of the connecting sprocketchain 188 and its co6perating sprocket-wheels. The rotationof shaft 158 is communicated, by means of sprocketchains 159 and 169, to the Wheels which roll upon the ground-rails through the means of the chains, sprocket-wheels, and gears shown in Figs. 12, 13, 14, and. 15, ,as will be readily understood. When the frame has by this means been brought over a section of unexcavated ground, the shovel is caused to make a succession of trips forward and backward on its track-sections, each time scraping out of the trench a layer of dirt, the shape of the trench being determined by the shape of the shovel-track extending directly thereover.

An inspection of Fig. 2 will show that cable 123 in pulling theshovel up the right-hand end 55 of the ditch tracksection extends more or less transversely to the track, so that its pull is not as effective as if the construction was such that the cable passed over a sheave near the end of track-section 55. In order to economize in the use of power, I

- en sof the ang e-bars 190, secured to the intermediate track-section, are

provided with a hinged plate 191, Fig: 27, a apted to rest upon a depressed portion 192 of the track near its-lower 190, secured to the dumping track-section s 84. As the gap between the two opens or closes more or less, the continuity of the trackway 190 is maintained by means of plate 191. A sheave-frame '193, provided at its upper portion with rollers 194, adapted to trave on the trackway 190, and provlded gortion with a pivoted sheave 195, is adapte to be maintained in a position adjacent 'to'the end 55 of the ditchtrack b means of a lever 196, pivoted at 197 to-the s cave-frame, the lever cooperating at one end with a fixed stop 198, secured to the tracks 190. At its other end lever 196 has a hook 199, which un er certain conditions is ada ted to engagethe upstandin front flange of t e cross-channellOO of the s ovel-frame.

The operation of the traveling sheave 1s as follows: While the shovel is on the ditchtrack, its forwardly-pullin cable 123 passes over the sheave 195, whic is maintained in fixed position b the stop 198, against which abuts the end 0 lever 196. When the shovel is traveling up the end of the ditch-track adjacent to the intermediate track-section,

cable 123 pulls longitudinally of the inclined end of the ditch-track, as is shown in Fig. 24.

When the shovel reaches the upper end of this inclined ditch-track, its channel strikes the protrudin inclined end of catchlever 196, releasing t e same from the fixed stop 198 the forward end of the shovel-truck striking the end of the traveling sheaveframe and carrying the same forwardly on the trackway as far as the'shovel travels. The two are hooked together during this travel, since the latch portion 199 engages the channel 100. During the rearward movement of the shovel the traveling sheave is pulled along, due to its locked connection therewith, and when the sheave reaches the end of its travel, striking against a springbuffer 200, the shovel-truck in turning down the incline 55 automatically releases itself from the hook 199, at the same time permitting-the lever 196 to turn on its pivot, owin to the su erior weight of its hook end, and engage t e stop 198. It will be apparent from this construction that by means of the traveling sheave the pull of the cable upon the shovel-truck is applied in a direction to conserve the power necessary to operate the machine.

-I claim 1. In an excavating-machine, the combi nation of a frame comprising a main or ditch portion extending transversely over the trench to-be dug, and a boom or overhanging dumpin portion a main shovel supporting and gui ingtrack-section supporte b the ditch portion of said frame, and a 00m track-section forming an extension of said main track-section; su ported by the overhanging ortion of sai frame, substantially as descri ed.

2. In an excavating-machine, the combination of a frame comprising a main or ditch portion extending transversely ,over the trench to be dug and a boom or overhanging dumpin .portion, amain shovel supporting and gui to the cross-sectional profile of the trench and supported by the ditch ortion of said frame, a boom track-section orming an extension to said main track-section supported by the overhangingportion of said frame, a shovel to remove the dirt from the trench and dump the same, and means to move said shovel to and fro on said supporting and guidin track-sections, substantially as de-- scribe 3. In an excavating-machine, the combi-' nation with a main frame having a projecting boom, of a shovel supporting and guiding track mounted thereon, including a vertically-movable section carried by the main frame and a lon itudmall -movable section carried by the boom, substantially as described.

4. In an excavating-machine, the combination with a main frame having a laterallyprojecting boom, of a shovel supporting and guiding track mounted thereon including a vertically-movable section carried 'by the main frame, and a lon 'tudinally-movable inclined section suspen ed from the boom, substantially as described. i

5. In an excavating-machine,'the combination of a main frame having a boom, a shovel supporting and guiding track mounted thereon including a vertically-movable section sha ed to conform to the cross-sectional pro e of the trench to be dug and a section sus ended from said boom by links, a shovel, an means tomove said shovel to and fro on said track, substantially as described.

ng track-section shaped to conform,

6. In an excavating-machine, the combi- 'nationof a su porting-frame, and a shovel supporting an guidin track mounted thereon including a v'ertica ly-movable section 'a dumping-section connected to said frame by links, and an intermediate section pivoted to said vertically-movable and dumping sections, substantially as described.

7. In an excavating machine, the combination of a supporting-frame adapted to ex- 

